ty

ulled back in a snarl. "Like he doesn't want to cons

. Though I won't

t spot has been firming up with each new indiscretion. For years, Lukyan's vices were relegated to his personal life. He spent his free time in clubs and bars and

ind him, and when they do, he is too sick to be of any use. Father has done his best to impress upon Lukyan the importance of his role in our family, but Lukyan

something. His blue eyes are the clearest I've seen them in the last few months. It won't be long before he'll give in again to the pull of the drugs

h reality yet. If he feels backed into a corner, he'll crawl into some hole, shoot up, and disappear for a w

ong a book on my shelf, but when he realizes how badly it is shak

the first time I've seen you in four days. I

ether it is heated with shame or anger. "You are in y

st you find a higher bar to jump over," I say. "Just because

o come over him all at once, and he moves back to the chair and flops d

ough. And yet, the reality still doesn't seem to have sunk in. "You are the

o his head, a couple inches shorter than mine now, but his fingers still grab

't want to be second-in-command. My entire life has been spent in the background of my family, and I've come to enjoy the shadows. If our father follows through on his threat, I'll be the new recipi

he threat isn't a mystery. There is a clear action and cons

looks down at the floor. "Yo

have to want it, Lukyan.

s side before I can even jerk back in surprise. He leaned forward, his palms flat on m

straight into his. To anyone walking by, it would look like I was lo

e leans forward until his no

k. Y